What Were Lizzi's Favorite Songs?
Outta Commission, the band performing during 'A Night in Remembrance of Lizzi Marriott,' seeks input on what music to play that night.
What were Elizabeth “Lizzi” Marriott’s favorite songs?
Local dance rock band Outta Commission wants to play such music during "A Night in Remembrance of Lizzi Marriott,” the event the Westborough Athletic and Social Association will sponsor from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Indian Meadows Country Club in Northborough.
Band members want “to get to know Lizzi” and have "tried to find out through friends what music she listens to,” but “haven’t gotten a lot of feedback yet,” says Mark Kujawski, the group’s general manager.
Kujawski is inviting community members to post music suggestions on Outta Commission’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/OuttaCommission.
“We’re trying to home in on things that we think that she would listen to. If she had her iPod on, what would she listen to? What would she go dance to?” says Kujawski, who plays guitar and keyboards, and is a vocalist.
The event will feature dancing, appetizers, a raffle and a silent auction.
Tickets are $25, and are available at Central House, Curry Printing, JP’s Restaurant, Sapporo, Westboro House of Pizza and Love Those Nails. Tickets will also be available at the door.
All proceeds will benefit the Lizzi Marriott Intrepid Explorer Fund.
The non-profit, tax-exempt fund will support scholarships “for young adults looking to embrace an education and life working in marine sciences. Preference will be given to Westborough High School graduates, volunteers at the New England Aquarium and University of New Hampshire students studying marine sciences,” according to an association flyer.
Outta Commission has played at a number of charitable events over its 10 years, including the association’s Turkey Shoot last three or four years, Kujawski says.
“We just love the response that we get from the Westborough people," he says.
"We’re not real musicians. We’re mostly a bunch of moms and dads that started playing together, and we have a real eclectic mix of songs. We do everything from classic rock to Lady Gaga, just because it’s fun for our crowd.”
The band consists of Kelli Wagner, on lead vocals and keyboards; Tom Barnes, on lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, and keys; Tim Lescallee, on drums; George Taglieri, on bass; Westborough resident Steve Hummel, on guitar and vocals; and Kujawski.
“We all sort of share in events when they come up. We don’t play clubs as often as we do charity events, just because it’s more conducive for us to get together and rehearse when we’re doing something for a cause,” Kujawski says.
When WASA asked the band to perform at the Jan. 26 event, “the first thing we all said to ourselves was, ‘Wow, this is an honor. It’s incredible that they asked us to do this. And we want do do it,'” he says.
“The second thing is, ‘How do you do it? How do you approach it so that you give it the right credence,'” he says.
Kujawski adds that “we all have kids her age.”
“That’s the other big thing. I’ve got a daughter who’s 23 and a daughter who’s 18. If I had to be in that same situation, it’s devastating,” he says.
“And everybody in the band pretty much feels the same way.”